This is a type of psychological exorcism
which is an outgrowth of past-life therapy that is largely the result of
the work of Edith Fiore, an American psychologist. The term "depossession"
was preferred to "exorcism" which infers Demonic
possession.

Depossession is the act of exorcising attached discarnate human spirits
and nonhuman spirits, allegedly attached to living people, causing a host
of physical, mental, and emotional ills. Various types of depossession are
practiced throughout the world.

Past-life therapy (PLT) is a type of psychotherapy in which the causes
of present physical and psychological problems are traced to alleged past-life
traumas and death experiences. The therapy has been claimed to be effective
in treating many phobias and deep-seated fears such as burning in hell.
Traditional psychoanalysis is seldom effective on such deep-rooted fears.
PLT is based on the belief in reincarnation
or the possibility of it. The relief obtained by PLT is said to be achieved
by the release of energy that is trapped in the past life.

Fiore and other past-life therapists regress their patients to past lives
through hypnosis so they can observe interference from attached spirits.
Among some 30,000 cases, Fiore estimated that 70% of the patients had at
least one spirit attached to them. Usually they are not aware of its attachment.

Most of the spirits are believed to be deceased humans who have not yet
departed the earthly plane. They are believed to attach themselves to a
family member or a person who is weakened by substance abuse, hostility,
or severe illness. Nonhuman spirits include elementals and evil-natured
entities.

Fiore found that many possessions are said to be due to effects of karma that was caused by spirit
possession in past lives. Another past-life therapist Helen Wambach
in a survey found many patients discovered through therapy past-life karmic
ties with persons in their present lives, and were able to release suppressed
hostility and guilt which resulted in improving present relationships.

Many who undergo depossession through PLT say they experience a new attitude
toward life: they become aware of universal laws, such as karma, self-responsibility,
and the right of others to progress in their own direction. Life becomes
relative, there are no more absolutes of "goods" or "bads."
Life now has became a learning experience for them.

In the West depossession has a precedence in Spiritualism. At the height
of Spiritualism people suffering from unusual mental symptoms often attended
seances hoping to have 'low' spirits exorcised.

Depossession was first medically used by the American physician and psychologist
Carl Wickland who had attended many Spiritualist seances. He and his wife
Anna did most of their work in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries.
They attributed all manner of mental conditions and illnesses to confused,
benign spirits who were entrapped in auras of living persons.

Wickland's depossession method was unique. He invented a static electricity
machine that transmitted a low-voltage electric shock to the patient, and
was the forerunner of the low voltage electric shock treatment use in psychotherapy.
The shock was to make the spirit very uncomfortable so it would leave the
victim and enter Anna's body, and then finally give up and depart forever.
If it did not, then Wickland called on "helper spirits" to keep
the benign spirit in the so-called "dungeon" and out of both auras
of the victim and Anna. The battle was waged until the spirit finally gave
up and left for good. A.G.H.